The music manager who promoted David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour has called the artist a "legend" who will be remembered forever.

The icon passed away yesterday after battling cancer, just two days after celebrating his 69th birthday and the release of his latest album Blackstar.

Les Best, who owns Hatters Hall record shop in Faversham, worked with Bowie during his 1972 Ziggy Stardust tour.

Mr Best, who featured on Kent Online over the weekend because of his close friendship to Motorhead's Lemmy who also passed away earlier this year, co-promoted the successful seventies tour.

The 63-year-old, of Park Avenue in Whitstable, said: "He was a really nice, gentle person to work with. The tour was like a relaunch for Bowie as Ziggy was the main thing since the days of Space Oddity.

"Bowie was totally unique, totally different and had a completely new feel to it compared to a lot of the rock stuff in that era.

"He was artistic and quirky and his ideas were fresh and brilliant. The way he worked was incredible.

"Before he went on stage you could see him oozing with wanting to get out there but at the same time, everything had to be perfect. The make-up, the music, the stage, everything had to be spot on.

"He was well-rehearsed and polished. But he wasn't mouthy or bolshy like a lot of pop and rockstars.

"I didn't know him in the later days of his career but whenever I saw him on TV or heard him on the radio, he still came across in that reserved, professional manner.

"But when he went out on stage, it was a completely different ball-game. When he hit that stage with Ziggy Stardust, it was just incredible. It went from 'woah' to 'wow'. It was quite something."

The news of Bowie's death has swept the world after a message on his website appeared this morning.

It said: "David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.

"While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family’s privacy during their time of grief."

Mr Best heard the news this morning and says he was completely shocked to hear of Bowie's passing, alongside many others who were not aware that he had been battling cancer.

Mr Best adds: "I didn't know he was ill but that is total professionalism. If you can keep that sort of thing quiet and still produce an album, that is total professionalism.

"He will be remembered forever.

"There are certain people who will be remembered forever. Elvis remembered for rock and roll, Lemmy was behind hard metal and rock, but Bowie is a connoisseur of his genre and that won't ever be forgotten.

"There will never be anyone like him. He's an icon, a legend."